Cutting
Cutting is a behavior where a person feels some sense of emotional relief from cutting oneself with a knife or a blade. It is typically performed to regulate one’s emotional world, to blunt an overwhelming emotional reaction, or to literally “feel something,” so as to not be numbed out from ones emotions. This behavior is seen in both men and women, though women are more likely to cut than men.
Cutting is often used to relieve such emotions as emptiness, loneliness, sadness and anger. Many individuals who cut report a momentary feeling of relief followed by shame and negative feelings about the self.
There are a host of other types of self-harm behaviors that individuals may use compulsively in order to regulate their emotional experiences, including alcohol, drugs, suicidal gestures, impulsive spending, sex, gambling, and pornography. Like cutting, these behaviors also tend to be used as ways to help a person to feel better emotionally, although in the long term they often leave the person feeling worst and more depleted.
Cutting is a behavior often associated with Borderline Personality.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) can be highly successful in reducing cutting behaviors. In this therapy, concrete strategies are given to reduce cutting behaviors, and to develop alternative ways for managing negative emotions.
If you are cutting yourself, contact me either via email or at 703-541-1277 to see how I can help you.
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